Aerial railway apparatus



July 20, 19 43. ALDAVINO A 2,324,487

AERIAL RAILWAY APPARATUS Filed May 3, 19:57 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. m /4LP/7 0N50 fl4/ //v0 Ll 1 i] BY ATTbRNEY July 20, 1943. A. DAVINO 2,324,437

AERIAL RAILWAY APPARATUS I Filed May 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /4.4P//0/v50 424mm AT TORNEY July 20, 1943. A.. DAVINO' I AERIAL RAILWAY APPARATUS 4' Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1957 IN VEN TOR. /4/ PHO/, V50 DAM/V0 IATTO.RNEY

July 20, 1943. YA. DAVlNO mm, RAILWAY APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4 j INVENTOR. /4LPHO/V5O D/M/w v novel tower 'latentecl July 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT FF CE.)

AERIAL RAILWAY APPARATUS Alphonso Davina, Los Angeles, Calif. Application Mayv3, 1937, Serial No. 140,366 fiCla'ims. (01. 104-124) My present invention relates to educational toys for the erection of structures, and. particularly for the erectionof aerial railways and the like. 7. l

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a toy of this class whereby an extensive structure may be made with relatively (fewer parts than would normally berequired for such a structure.

Another important objectof thisinvention is the provision ofbuildingv elements of economical construction for erecting a relatively extensive construction of this class. 1

Afurther important object of this-invention is the provision of such building elements which may be readily and economically packed in convenient cartons. e i Still another importantobject ofthisinvention is the provision of building: elements which facilitate erection and prescribe to some extent theform and building principles tobe followed. Anotherobject of this inventioniis'to provide and rail supporting trussconstruction.

' A further object is to provide novel rail truss suspension means and novelmeans ofsecuring 1e trusses to the tower. V Y

A still further object is to provide a novel carriage construction and novel mounting for the cabin thereon. r

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised an educational toy of the class mentioned and one having certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and POItlOIlSpEtS:

will be hereinafter described in detail and par- 'ticularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the laccompanying'drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which: 7 s

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of 'arpreferred 'form of a supporting tower of; my toyaerial Figfx'? is a fragmentary perspective View thereof; w z 1 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view .of one'span of the aerial railway;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view of the track supporting truss, andone forrnof carriage and cabin supportedsthereon; 7

v Fig." 10 is a perspective-viewof the carriage frame; 1.

Fig. 11 is'a sectional View of a slightly modified form. of the trackgsupporting "truss. and of the cabin orcar suspended therefrom and, p

, Fig..l2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the front end of .the 'cabin, showingparticularly the propellerat the front end and theguarditherefor. One form 30f :supportin t wer, s n ted. A.

. I have shown inFigs. 1 and 2. This tower,-i n a preferred lformyconsists of side members I,' a

base}, crosssor -tie members 3, and diagonalsfl. The side members are shapedin thegeneral side outline of 'thetower, and are preferably punched from. one p the upri hts Ir. cross m mber l and diagonals 1 simulating the corresponding membersmna stru tura ist e .tower, 171 tw upper cross i members 1 l of each; side member extend laterally at .c0nsiderable distanceytq form a, cantilever oroverhanging tower; portion, de sig- -nated Al. The-bases ofithe uprights are-anchoredinor secured by bolts 5 110 the ,base Z, L. 30

which is a plate. Thecenter of therail supporting truss, which isto be supported from the verhanging portion of the tower, as will'be described hereafter, preferablysfalls within the; base of the tower, and is positioned particularly o ve the .abasel; 1 a .7 Thecross members 3' andqdiagonals4;aresecured; by bolts 6;;t0' inwardlysibentlugs l on the tower side members ;I. Diagonals or diagonal, ybraces A are preferably provided-only on thejinner ,or track side of the towerand on the underside of the cantilever or overhanging-portion; 1A1; I

The 'rail supporting truss iscomposed ofji dentical sections B; there being-several sect-ions; to

each span betweensadjacenttowers. jl'hese secti lik th tow rs, have; t oppos tel lons sides formed. ofqsinglevpiec s;llrwh chrar connected laterally by cross or tie-memb g idiagonals I3.

L Each side member H is formed or pressedof a single piece and haspreferably twouprights V llflitwo stringersand diagonals ll gj gne ,upright is providedat, one end andanother, intermediate the ends, as shown in'Figl 3. g i

, The lower ends of the uprights whichl have .e 55

t rm d r are, outwardlyoff-setand then bent inwardly. To and over the ends of the arms is cast a rail section l4 of I-shaped cross-section. One end of each rail section M has a longitudinally extended lug I4 at the outer side of the web for securing abutting sections together. The rail sections [4 are equal in length to the truss side members H but are offset with respect to the same, the end, coincident with the end of the side member having the depending arm, extending beyond the end of said side member ll. Such construction applies to the straight sections, shown in Fig. 3, as well as to the curved sections to be described hereafter.

It is important to the economy and to the eas of erection of my structure that the opposite side members H of each section be duplicates and be readily interchangeable.

These truss sections are secured together by bolts l5 extending through inwardly bent lugs l I and. l i at the ends of the stringers U. These bolts also fasten the tie members I2 and diagonals |3 to the inner sides of the lugs I of the side members. The tie members, intermediate the ends of the sections B may be fastened to ears H bent inwardly from the side members.

The opposite end portions of the upper stringers are provided with inwardly directed flanges having holes ll -Bolts H) are adapted to secure the rail supporting truss sections through the holes I to the inwardly bent lugs I at the lower side of the overhanging portion Al of the tower. ceive the hook bolts l'l for supporting the rail supporting truss from the suspensioncables 2|, to be described hereafter. The flanges H and the holes are so arranged that the side members |l may be interchanged readily and secured either to the towers or suspended from the cables, and so that the suspending means from the cables may be positioned directly opposite eachother.

The suspensioncables 2|, there being preferably two suspended between adjacent towers, are adjustably secured at their ends above and to the middle portions of the overhanging or cantilever portions A| of the towers. Instead of merely flat straps for cross or tie members at the upper side of the cantilever portion, I have provided angle members 22 which are providedintermediate their ends with angle clips 23, which clips,

at the opposite sides of the span may be reenforced by the straps 24. The cables 2| are connected by hooks 25 to the opposite edge portions of the angle clips 23, as shown best in Fig. 2. One end of the cable may be provided with a turn buckle 26 for adjusting the tension of the cable. The hooks I! are merely hooked over the cables 2| near the joined ends of the truss sections.

When providing for curves or bends in the track, the curved portion of the track is also made in sections, constructed similarly to the straight sections previously described. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown a curve made up in two 90 sections. The radially inner and outer side sections 3| and 32 are constructed similar to the side members I I, described above, but are of different curvature from each other. They In the event of curved portions in the track system, the towers A are preferably positioned at the radially inner sides of the curves, whereas the towers may be placed on either side in straight portions of the track. Thecable supporting means on the towers employed at the curves is slightly different from that described above. In the latter case the flange of the supporting angle at the outer end of the cantilever portion is turned downwardly, as indicated by 33 in the drawings. On this angle member is secured a strap 34, which is also secured at its inner end on the angle member 22, and extends with its other end considerably beyond the cantilever These holes II are also adapted to remay also be made longer in longitudinal or cir- 7 ing cross straps 36 to which are variously secured a I the truss supporting hooks H.

portion of the tower, as shown in Fig. 5. On this strap 34 is adjustably mounted a bracket 35 whichhas its opposite ends turned upwardly, forming'flanges 35 in-[WhiCh are holes 35 into which the cable members 25 are hooked. Thus, the cables at the curved portions of the track are supported greater distances outwardly than in the straight construction.

In Fig. 6 of the drawingsJ have shown a modifled format a track supporting tower, designated C, in the form of an arch. This arch is formed in two parts, C and C joined at the top or apex of the arch. In this instance,.each part also consists of opposite side members 4|, formed similar to side members I of the tower described above. In this instance the lower ends. 4| of theside members are narrow and supported upon angles 42 which secure together. the opposite side members of each half. Theinner uprights, designated 4| arearranged angularly and extend to the extreme upper portion of the. tower, where the corresponding membersv of opposing halves are joined together, as indicated at 4|". side members, are also provided with lateral members 4I which are joined with the corresponding member of. the. opposing half- Inthis instance also are provided tiemembers 43 and diagonals 44. The diagonals are preferably only employed at the inner sideof the .arch..

. by a strap 46. The suspension cables are hooked to the angle clips 45 inthemanner. described above. The railsupporting truss is supported in like mannerby thetower O just described. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 .of, the drawings, 1 have shown a carriage frame 5|; which'may be constructed substantiallyas shown. It consists essentially of forward and rear journals SW for supporting wheels ,52;to ride on top of the rails,

and a journal 5| intermediate and in a plane below theformer for supporting or retaining the wheels 53. adapted to engage the underside ofthe rails of the track The cabin or car 54 is suspended {from th fiarriage frame 5|, preferably by a four point."suspen'sion. lThe suspension means may'consist of hangers or boltsf55 at the front and rear ends oftheicarriage, andhangers orbolts 56 at the opposite lateral sideslof the.

longitudinal axis andjntermediate the 'nds of the carriage. Between the carriage and theupper ends of the bolts 55 are compression springs 51 for carrying the-weight ofthe cabin' or car.

Also between the carriagegandl the upper portions of the cabin" or car" are other springs 58" a for absorb-ing the lateral shock, or 'for permitting-the cabin to sway or bank easily, par f ticularly when making a curve;

These tween the motor 63 and the drive wheels 52 may be in any other suitable manner known to those familiar with such construction.

In order to permit the carriage to pass freely around curves, I have mounted the retaining Wheels 53 upon an axle or spindle 64 which is laterally shiftable and is retained in a central position by springs 55 suitably arranged in connection with the spindles 6Q.

On thecarriage I have also provided a trolley arm which is pivotally mounted on an insulating bracket l2. At the free end of the trolley arm is a trolley wheel 73 which is resiliently held in engagement with a trolley or track 14 by means of a spring 15 arranged resiliently to force the free end of the trolley arm upwardly.

The trolley or charged track 14 may be of narrow U-shape and provided with upwardly extending projections I l at the upper edges of its opposite sides. These projections may extend through holes in an insulating strip 75. Above the insulating strip 16 may be another insulating strip 11. This trolley is secured against the lower edge of the lower cross members. l2 of the truss sections B, and preferably by spring clips 18 which engage the opposite edges of the insulating strips and extend around the upper edges of the cross members [2, and are preferably seated in notches l2 therein.

The ends of the trolley or track i l may be spliced by dowel members 19, one end of which is secured in one end of one trolley section and the other end of which may extend into the abutting end of the other trolley section.

The drive means for the cabin or car may, of course, consist of a propeller 8|, and may be carried at the forward end of the cabin or car, which propeller may be driven bya motor 82, also carried at the forward end of the cabin, and deriving its power from a trolley, as described above. The propeller, in this instance, consists of a series of spirally arranged vanes 8 extending from a rotating drum 81 peller is encaged in a suitable guard 83.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of rail or track construction. In this modification the rail 9| is positioned laterally outward from the lower portion of the truss. In this construction, a single carriage and car may be supported on the two rails at the opposite sides of a truss. Or, one. carriage and car may be supported or suspended on each rail, as shown in the drawings. If desired, the trolley 92 may be located at the side of the car, and the trolley wheel 93 yieldingly mounted at the side of the car.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, and certain modifications thereof, and have specifically applied the various features to an educational toy, I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement, substantially as set forth in the appended claims, certain features being claimed broadly to include structures other than toys.

This pro- I claim: i

I. In an educational toy of the class described, a plurality of towers and truss sections, each comprising opposite side members and transverse tie members, each side member formed of a single piece simulating a fabricated steel frame, the tie members securing together the respective side members in spaced relation to simulate wholly fabricated steel towers and truss sections, two sections being butted end toend and secured with said abutted ends to a single tower, pairs of cables adjustab-ly suspended between adjacent towers, and hooks securingthe truss sections to the cables at the end portions of the sections.

2. In an aerial railway structure, a tower comprising a column and a cantilever truss at the upper portion of the column, carriage supporting tracks depending from the laterally extended portion of the cantilever truss, the center of the tracks fallin within the base of the column, suspension cables, and means supporting the cables from the upper side of the laterally extended portion of the truss, said means being adjustable longitudinally with respect to the laterally extended portion of the cantilever truss.

3. In an educational toy of the class described,

an arched track supporting tower constructed in equal halves divided at the top of the arch, each half comprising similar opposite side members,

each formed of a single piece simulating a structural steel frame, and tie members transversely securing said side members together in spaced relation, the side and tie members, when secured together, simulating a wholly fabricated structural steel tower.

4. In an educational toy of theclass described, a rail supporting truss comprising opposite side members, each formed of a single piece simulatll'lg a structural steel frame, said side members having outwardly offset depending bracket arms, a rail moulded to the lower ends of the arms of each side member, and tie members transversely securing the former together in spaced relation to simulate a wholly fabricated structural steel russ.

5. In an educational toy of the class described, a rail supporting truss comprising identical opposite side members, each formed of a single piece posite side members, each formed of a single piece simulating a structural steel frame, a rail depending from the lower portion of each side member, and tie members transversely securing the latter together in spaced relation to simulate a wholly fabricated structural steel truss, said rails being of the length of the side members but offset longitudinally with respect'thereto, the rails of the opposite side members bein oppositely off-set relative to each other.

ALPHONSO DAVINO. 

